Is a Booking Agent a Good Job?

Responsibilities of Booking Agents:

• Booking agents coordinate performances and tours for artists.
• They arrange travel, provide staff, and coordinate promotional activities.
• A booking agent works with promoters to ensure artists’ needs are met at venues, allowing them to focus on music.
• Booking agents negotiate fees with promoters and venues to secure paid engagements at the best terms for artists.

Becoming a Booking Agent:

• To become a booking agent, you need industry contacts and be organized with good communication skills.
• Getting a foot in the door at an agency can be tricky, but with effort, working up from an intern, you can become an agent.
• Independent artists often serve as their own booking agent initially. But to advance their career, at some point hiring an agent is necessary once they reach a level they cannot manage themselves.

Earning Potential:

• Booking agents typically earn 10-15 percent commission.
• With hard work building a client roster, a booking agent can earn $40,000-$225,000 annually.